Incheon shabu-shabu buffet, carrot egg porridge: Pyeonbaek Hoegwan

An all-in-one cypress steam and shabu-shabu spot: Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch

I heard there was a legit shabu-shabu spot that even got on TV, so as a certified shabu-shabu addict I headed straight for Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch in Yeongjong, Incheon. It was so reasonably priced that it was packed even at lunch — clearly the word is out?! Here's my honest review of a place where you can enjoy both cypress steam and shabu-shabu.

Where is Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch? Hours and parking

• Location: 8-11 Haneulbyeolbit-ro 65beon-gil, Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, 2nd floor
• Hours: 11:00–22:00
• Parking: underground parking in the building
• Featured on Instagram, TV, and other media

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch sits right in the center of Yeongjong's Haneul New Town, so it was super easy to find! Plus, with underground parking in the building, it looked like a great pick for families haha. The interior is spacious and comfortable enough for small group gatherings too, just so you know.

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan was created so guests can taste and enjoy a variety of healthy food. From the phytoncide-rich cypress steam to the fresh vegetable-and-beef shabu-shabu rice-paper wraps, both the broth and sauces are made 100% from in-house recipes. A custom-made special grill plate, crafted by an artisan, brings out the best flavor in the broth, and the cypress steamer itself was custom-built using traditional joinery — no screws at all.

A kids' playroom inside the restaurant

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch also has a kids' playroom set up, so there's no problem at all bringing the little ones along! It's kept super clean, as you can see in the photos, so no worries there~?!

What's on the salad bar, and how to build a plate

True to a Yeongjong spot known for both cypress steam and shabu-shabu, you get super fresh vegetables and unlimited meat! And the fact that you can eat my beloved ramen noodles to your heart's content made me so, so happy hehe.

How to eat it right 01. While waiting for the cypress steam, prepare your ingredients at the salad bar following the guide on the left 02. When eating shabu-shabu, also prep ingredients following the guide — the ladle, tongs, and scissors are all at the salad bar too 03. How to make egg vegetable porridge — add rice and vegetables to 3 ladles of broth, and once it's bubbling, add egg + seaweed flakes and stir well before eating

Ordering the all-you-can-eat lunch set: 17,900 won for two

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch has a kiosk at every table, so ordering is super convenient. The menu is built entirely around all-you-can-eat cypress steam and shabu-shabu, and since I came on a weekday lunch, I got to eat it at a really low price. I ordered the "all-you-can-eat set (lunch)" for two at ₩17,900.

🌟Ta-da🌟 The owner prepared it right as soon as we ordered. Wow.... this passes the visual test right away!

🌟Done🌟 This healthy yet delicious flavor is something you have to taste to believe! You can enjoy it at a nice price on weekdays from 11am to 3pm, and since there's no break time, you can drop by comfortably whenever you like!

Cypress-steamed meat first, wrapped in rice paper

At Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch, they let you enjoy the cypress steam as rice-paper wraps too, so like me, definitely try it as a rice-paper roll from the start! It's hearty yet healthy and light in flavor, so it seemed like something everyone — men, women, young and old — could enjoy without any complaints haha.

Shabu-shabu in katsuo and spicy mushroom broth

After finishing the cypress steam, I chose the broth through the kiosk, and right away they prepared the next course.

For the basic vegetables, you grab as much as you want from the salad bar and drop them into the boiling broth — this right here is the essence of shabu-shabu! Ahh...... doesn't it make your mouth water just looking at it?!

Out of the five broths — katsuo, spicy mushroom, doenjang chicken, bone marrow mala, and bone marrow tomato — I picked katsuo and spicy mushroom! If you, like me, want a light and clean meal, I highly recommend this broth combo. Especially, the more napa cabbage and mushrooms you add, the more refreshing and deep the broth gets — just so you know haha.

Haha, since I intentionally loaded up on meat during the cypress steam course, for shabu-shabu I piled in tons and tons of vegetables and enjoyed it super refreshing and clean. My stomach felt so comfortable and I could eat a lot without any burden — I was so happy ㅜㅜ

Finishing with egg porridge made with carrots

You can't skip making delicious egg porridge with the leftover broth, right?! Let's make it referring to the "how to eat it right" guide from earlier.

To bring out even more savory depth, I added a bit of vegetables like carrots to make an even tastier egg porridge?! True to Koreans' love of finishing a meal with rice, my stomach felt totally settled after this — I'm already planning to come back again!

And that was my honest review of Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch, the TV-featured Yeongjong restaurant! I could totally see why so many people come from far away — the quality and flavor were on point! Since every menu item is all-you-can-eat, anyone who wants a hearty meal at a low price should absolutely visit — I highly recommend it to families.